Simon’s SECRET

Would Sa y spill the beans?

You can have all this lot, if you’d like them,’ Jess offered, as she indicated the pile of clothes thrown on the bed.

I’d popped round with a magazine, as us neighbours swapped mags every week. This time, it had led to a ‘sorting out her wardrobe’ session.

I hesitated.

‘That’s very kind, but I couldn’t possibly take them.’

‘You’d be doing me a favour, Saffy. They were impulse buys. I’ve hardly worn them. We’re about the same size, so I’m sure everything will fit you.’

‘Well, in that case, thank you!’ I smiled.

I was putting on a show of appreciation, but actually I didn’t share Jess’s taste in fashion. The frumpy, frilly blouses and baggy trousers just weren’t my cup of tea. But I didn’t want to upset her by saying no.

It was good to have neighbours as friends.

Saying that, it was just me and Jess that were pals. Ever since a squabble over car parking, our hubbies hadn’t hit it off. Us wives had managed to smooth it over, but they’d been distant ever since.

My hubby Vinny and I were kept busy with our jobs. I was a part-time carer in a nursing home and Vinny was a builder. His contracts were on and off.

We struggled financially, but the Atkinsons next door had no money worries.

Jess’s hubby Simon had set up his own travel agency, and it was doing really well. Jess didn’t work, so was a lady of leisure, yet I sensed she was lonely.

She used to be a callcentre agent, but had reluctantly resigned when there wasn’t any need for her to earn.

Although she loved gardening, I knew she missed her colleagues, the routine, having an occupation and getting out of the house.

Simon was a workaholic, so she spent a lot of time on her own in the garden, planting and digging until dusk descended.

‘What am I going to do with all these clothes?’ I said to Vinny that evening, as I cooked bangers and mash for tea. ‘Jess has palmed a whole bundle off on to me.’

‘Why did you agree to take them?’ he asked, settling himself at the kitchen table.

‘It seemed churlish to refuse. They’re in perfect condition, though.’

‘Shove them in bin bags and take the whole lot to the charity shop,’ he replied, as he opened a can of lager. ‘That’s a good idea.’

Jess didn’t visit charity shops. I felt sure that her constant spending was to comfort herself due to Simon’s absence.

When Jess popped round with her mag on my day off, we got settled with a cuppa when she launched straight in and said: ‘I think

Simon’s seeing someone on the sly.’

I took a deep breath.

‘Is it him working in the evenings that makes you suspicious?’

She nodded.

‘I guess that’s why I’m addicted to shopping, Saffy. It makes me forget all my fears. Gardening does too.’

‘Gardening is good therapy, but you need to break this shopping cycle and confront Simon,’ I advised.

She blinked back tears. ‘I’ll try to break the shopping habit, but he’ll just deny it,

‘I’ll try to break the shopping habit, but he’ll just deny it, won’t he?’

won’t he?’

‘He might not be having an affair at all,’ I said, handing her some tissues.

‘What if he is? What do I do then?’

‘That depends if you both want to save your marriage,’ I soothed. ‘Look, instead of looking at the worst-case scenario, why not look at the best one?’

We talked more, but Jess was still in an emotional state when she left.

I was in two minds about the idea of Simon having an affair, until Vinny and I saw the proof with our own eyes.

We couldn’t really afford it, but we’d decided to treat ourselves to a meal at an Italian restaurant. That’s where we spotted Simon — at a cosy corner table with another woman.

‘It’s probably a work dinner,’ I reasoned.

‘Really?’ Vinny remarked, as we saw Simon take hold of the woman’s hand and kiss it gently.

My heart sank. It looked like Jess had been spot on.

‘Do you think he’s seen us?’ I hissed.

‘I don’t know. Let’s focus on our meal, Saffy. Their marriage is their business.’

I wanted to point out that Jess was my friend and she’d made it my business when she’d confided in me. But I didn’t, as I felt reluctant to spoil our rare night out.

We tried our best to ignore Simon and his lady friend, and by the time we’d reached the coffee stage, his girlfriend had disappeared.

Before I could say anything to Vinny, slimy Simon sidled up to us, grabbed a chair from a nearby empty table and, uninvited, joined us.

‘How would you two feel about a discounted holiday in the sun?’ he began.

I glanced at Vinny. It was clear that our neighbour was trying to buy our silence by offering us a sweetener.

‘Well, that would depend on the discount,’ Vinny

We saw Simon take hold of the woman’s hand and kiss it gently

stated.

He smiled. ‘Of course.’ ‘I guess, in return, you’d like us to forget about seeing you here tonight with your companion,’ I added smoothly.

He looked me in the eye. ‘Well, yes, that would be the deal.’

Vinny fell silent.

As Jess was my friend, he knew it was my call.

‘OK,’ I said. ‘Arrange an appointment for us to come into your office and when we’re there, we’ll book a holiday. But we won’t be bringing any cash with us.’ ‘Let me check my diary.’ He whipped out his mobile and gave us a suitable time and day, then handed us his business card.

We were just about to leave when Vinny cleared his throat and said: ‘I’d like to state one more condition — that I can park on the street wherever I like.’

‘That’s no problem. I’m going to create a parking space in my front garden, anyway.’

Was he? Crikey! Jess would be heartbroken to see her precious plants and flowers dug up.

Afew days later, I was getting ready for my afternoon shift at work, when the doorbell rang furiously. I frowned.

Who an earth would ring it like that?

There was only one way to find out... I flung open the door to find Jess standing there.

‘How dare you!’ she raged. ‘How dare you!’ I gulped.

Had she discovered the deal we’d cut with Simon? But Vinny and I hadn’t even visited his office yet…

Vinny had been offered a new building contract to start straightaway, so we were debating what to do.

‘What’s

the matter?’ I asked.

‘I gave you my clothes in good faith, but I’ve just seen one of my frilly blouses displayed in a charity shop window!’

I hung my head.

‘Oh.’

It hadn’t occurred to me that the shop staff would display them in the window.

‘If you didn’t want them, why didn’t you say so? I’m really hurt by this, Saffy!’

Jess said as she stormed off.

Ifelt awful. I felt even more awful when I saw her lovingly tended

‘Vinny can’t go on holiday with me now. So instead I’d like to take Jess’

front garden being ruined.

She was begging Simon to reconsider… I couldn’t bear to see it.

In the end, I went alone to see sleazy Simon. I’d hatched a plan…

‘Due to work commitments, Vinny can’t go on holiday with me now,’ I said. ‘So instead I’d like to take Jess.’ He looked startled.

‘Jess?’

‘Yep. Don’t worry, I’ll tell her I’ve been saving up and I went to your agency as you knew all the best deals.’ He frowned.

‘You won’t blab to her when you’re away?’

I smiled sweetly.

‘You’ll just have to trust me, won’t you?’

He quickly got to work on his computer.

Well, I thought sourly, while Jess is away, I expect it’ll give him free time with his girlfriend.

When I arrived home, I nipped next door.

Jess opened the door with a wary expression.

‘Jess, I know that I’m probably the last person you want to see right now,’ I began. ‘I’m sorry for not speaking up about the clothes. Not wanting to cause offence has, in fact, caused more offence. I miss you and I really hope that we can remain friends.’

She wiped away tears.

‘I’m sorry too,’ she said. ‘Come in, Saffy.’

I did, and handed her a carrier bag that held a stack of new gardening magazines.

It was a sort of peace offering.

I also showed her a newspaper cutting — I’d spotted an advert for renting a council allotment in the local newspaper.

‘It’s on a first come, first served basis, so you’d need to apply for it as soon as possible,’ I advised.

‘Ooh, thank you for this! It’s right up my street,’ she enthused.

‘That’s not all. How do you feel about a free holiday?’

I went on to tell my lie. ‘Are you sure Vinny can’t make it?’ she gasped. I nodded.

‘I’m sure.’

He had decided to take the building contract.

‘Well, yes! I’d love to come with you!’ she said, flinging her arms around me.

The sun-soaked fortnight in a luxury hotel and spa in Greece was only a week away.

Meanwhile, Jess sobbed her heart out when her lovely garden was replaced with tarmac.

However, she’d managed to clinch that precious allotment, so that had cheered her up.

Would I keep Simon’s secret safe?

Of course not.

I’d tell Jess about her love-rat cheat hubby the day before we returned.

Vinny and I have a spare room, so she can unpack her suitcase at ours.